The Dark Hours is a gripping and atmospheric crime thriller that plunges readers into the hunt for a copycat killer mimicking the brutal crimes of a notorious serial murderer. The original detective—now retired—is reluctantly drawn back into the case, forced to confront old demons while navigating a modern-day investigation.

Told through a dual timeline, the novel masterfully weaves past and present, whilst the dark, moody atmosphere heightens the tension with every twist. The characters are compelling, especially the retired detective, Julia, whose experience and haunted past add depth to the story.

Fast-paced yet richly layered, The Dark Hours is a must-read for fans of noir crime fiction, police procedurals, and psychological thrillers. It’s a novel that lingers long after the final page.

If you enjoy piecing together clues from the comfort of your own home, "The Dark Hours" is an essential addition to your reading list. This captivating novel is skillfully crafted and utterly addictive, allowing me to devour the entire story in just two sittings. As a remarkable debut, it sets a new standard for future literary works in the genre.

The plot is intricately woven with dual timelines that complement one another seamlessly, creating a rich tapestry of suspense and action intertwined with moments that provoke profound thought. Each character is meticulously developed, contributing depth to the narrative and drawing readers into their struggles and victories.

For its masterful storytelling and engaging prose, this book undoubtedly deserves a resounding five-star rating. I am eagerly looking forward to seeing what this talented author will create next, as they have set the bar high with their debut.

Page one makes you wonder. Page two pulls you in. You forget everything except this riveting book.

By the end I wished I hadn't read it so I could start again. A must read.

A fantastic dual timeline novel based in Cork in the South West of Ireland during 1994 and 2024. A strong female lead froM her time as a young g guard chasing a serial killer to a retired DI who comes out retirement when a copycat killer emerges 30 years later.
The story is well written, the story evolves and unfolds as the timeline changes between the two. So you don’t know the whole story for 1994 to early.
Great book, will read this author again.

Thanks to netgalley for the early review book.

This is one amazing read.

From Julia to Adrian the characters are well written.

The storyline is amazing and keeps you reading .

After a tumultous career, including bringing down a prolific serial killer at extreme personal cost, Julia Harte has retired to a secluded coastal village in Ireland. When a copycat killer strikes, Julia returns and finds herself in the middle of the investigation, with no choice but to face her past.

This book was written in two timelines and flitted between the present and the investigations of thirty years ago. I really enjoyed this as the historic timeline gradually revealed information to bring the story together.

I loved Julia as a character and found myself really rooting for her. The book was fast paced and I had many a late night reading 'just one more chapter'. The Dark Hours is an emotional rollercoaster of a book, full of twists and turns, and I loved every minute.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

Really good read! I enjoyed the dual aspect very much. I did guess 'whodunnit' before the end, but it didn't spoil anything for me. The characters were likeable and there's a dog for a bonus!

As a young police officer in 1994, Julia Harte is exposed to an investigation that shapes her in the most fundamental way. Decades later, after she begun living a somewhat reclusive life in a small village, events linked to that traumatic case unexpectedly cause old memories to resurface.

But Julia herself is now at the peak of her powers and far better placed to handle the situation. And that is just as well, because the enemy she faces is a formidable one...

This is dark, atmospheric and gripping storytelling, and will appeal to those who enjoy a good police procedural as well as a story with unexpected layers. It gets 3.5 stars.

Detective Inspector Julia Harte is back to support the team after a copycat killer begins replicating the murders that took her partner’s life, threatened her own and cost her her marriage. The split timeline here allows us to see how consequences, trauma and grief affect people and each timeline is full of twists and turns I didn’t see coming. Enjoyed this one!

Now that's how you smash a debut what a treat!

Julia is a wonderful character who you can't help but be drawn to her determined spirit (and Mutt is an added bonus)

Told in two time lines we see the previous investigation unfold at the same time as the present to connect them together which added depth and clarity.

The writing flowed effortlessly over the pages to create an engaging, dramatic, compelling read.

This will defiantly be one of my top reads for 2025 well deserving of its five stars excited to read more from this author.

THE DARK HOURS

The reader is drawn into this, dark, twisty and utterly compelling story right from the start.

Flowing between 1994 and 2024 this dual timeline police procedural, crime thriller really keeps you guessing as you gather all the clues and start to piece everything together.

A very atmospheric and enjoyable read

Thanks to #NetGalley the publishers #HQ and Author #AmyJordan for the #eBook of #TheDarkHours for my honest review.

#TheDarkHours #author #AmyJordan #debutnovel #mystery #policeprocedural #thriller #dualtime #atmospheric #gripping #compelling

I was instantly drawn to this by the cover and the fact it was set in cork, Ireland. This is set over dual timeline 1994 & 2024 which was done really well. I went between reading and listening to this one. Some good twists along the way and wrapped up well. Rounded up to 4 stars and a well written debut novel. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

I was very impressed with this debut novel as it was something different to read, being set in Cork in Ireland. It is told in dual timeline in 1994 and 2024 with Julia being a young garda to being retired however she is brought back into a case along with her ex boss, to solve a new case which has too many similarities to one which she was involved in years ago. The story easily flows between the two periods and as the reader, you are kept waiting until almost the very end to find out who the baddie is - and I didn't guess it either !! Overall 4.5*

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

I loved the first half of this. It felt very dark and intriguing. But the second half didn't interest me as much, and I struggled. But I want to give it another try, so I'm going to listen to the audiobook and come back to hopefully write a better review.

Right away I was gripped by the darkness and intensity and the pace kept this up throughout the book, overall a very intense and atmospheric read.

I thought this was a brilliant written debut novel. The thriller genre is so popular (and read so often by me) but I still felt that this story was fresh and kept me guessing.

I particularly loved how the author wrote the relationships within the book and I was really impacted by the loss of certain characters as a result.

Would definitely read more books from this author

4* ADVANCED REVIEW. COPY

Amy Jordan makes her crime novel debut with this well constructed story about a retired police officer revisiting an historic case as a killer is either back or being cleverly copy-catted.

For once the hard boiled ex-cop isn't a grizzled old chap, its a former police woman, and in Julia Hart we have a character that I'd certainly like to read more about.

Keep up the good work Ms Jordan

4.25⭐

I found The Dark Hours to be an intriguing debut novel to read. Although I'm not a big fan of stories with dual timelines. However, there was something captivating about this one.

As a retired DI, Julia Harte is living in the secluded village of Cuan Beag. On the east coast of Ireland. Where she is determined to put her life as a detective behind her. Especially during the period in 1994 when she worked as a young gardai on a disturbing serial killer case.

A serial killer who has recently died in jail.

But unfortunately for Julia, her peaceful existence with her dog mutt doesn't last long. As she is pulled back to the city of Cork for a murder investigation. That is eerily similar to the case from 1994.

Yet, it has to be a copycat, doesn't it?

Well, Julia is determined to find out and she's a much different person and detective now from the one who helped catch that killer thirty years ago.

And with great pacing, an interesting premise, an intricate plot, and complex characters. Not to mention a well-balanced mix of mystery and thrills. This was an enjoyable debut novel and I would happily recommend it to others.

A truly brilliant plot

In 1994, Garda Julia Harte and her partner of many years, Adrian Clancy are asked to investigate a noise complaint. Something that they’ve attended many times in the past, however, this night it turns deadly and none of their training is going to help them with the catastrophic events that happen. Julia Harte’s life changes radically that night, leaving her with visions that will haunt for forever.

Like all women who joined the police at that time, she must fight for her right to be part of the team investigating the murder of her partner in a police force that still looks on women as “the weaker sex.” Some of her methods seem almost manic to make the detective section realise that they do need her involvement to capture the killer.

In 2024 Detective Inspector Julia Harte has retired and has found the idyllic cottage in a remote part of Ireland to enjoy her retirement. Her peace and quiet is disturbed when her old superintendent requests her to return as two girls have been murdered and the killings echo the murders that took place in 1994.

Amy Jordan has written the perfect page-turner. This novel has so much angst, misogyny, brilliant police work, and outstanding characters that it must rank as one of my best reads so far this year.

Rony
Elite Reviews received a copy of the book from NetGalley to review.

This is a gripping and tense read that had me on the edge of my seat! I knew from the first few chapters that I was going to enjoy this one and I was very much correct.

Told in two timelines, we follow Julia as she deals with one of the toughest cases in her career. I really liked that we got to see Julia at these two different times in her life. In 1994, she's incredibly determined, almost forcing herself on to the case as it becomes incredibly personal to her. In 2024, she's retired but still living in fear at the case that helped boost her career. We get to see how she's grown over the years and how her training and knowledge has developed. I have a degree in criminal psychology, so I loved seeing how it all came together.

This was a brilliant debut novel and reminded me why I love the crime fiction! I'm intrigued to see what Jordan writes next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.